Clemmie Hooper's thought-provoking blog post, which can be found in full over at Gas And Air, began with a warning to her 2442 followers: "This post is going to come as a bit of a shock to some of you out there. Some of you will be stunned, amazed and maybe even confused. I am a midwife and mother and I didn’t enjoy breastfeeding."
The midwife then went on to reveal that many of the mothers she works with have admitted that they find breastfeeding tough:
"She said she felt guilty that she wanted to give up, like she’d let her daughter down and like a failure as a mother. It was so sad hearing this. She was an emotional mess and sobbed into my arms.
"We had a big chat and I said she had to do what was right for her. If she wasn’t enjoying motherhood because of breastfeeding then there was no point putting herself and her baby through all of this."
The post also included the personal experiences of friends, both of whom suggested that breastfeeding was "not the feeling I was expecting" and that they "felt guilty" for finding it a struggle.
Thankfully Clemmie, who has spent her life "catching babies" and helping women through their pregnancies, had a simple and empowering solution for mothers everywhere:
*"Formula milk is not the evil poison that mothers give their babies. It’s the other option available for women who either choose not to breastfeed or who can’t breastfeed their babies. And thank god we have that option in this country. *
"And before you start the formula company rage I think we need to start putting women’s sanity first. Surely formula-feeding is better than a mum who is on her way to PND? In the end, protecting your mental heath is more important because your baby needs you."
*"Share your troubles, attend local breastfeeding support groups and breastfeeding cafes in children’s centres who can help you if you’re struggling to ‘get it right’. *
*"And if getting it right doesn’t work for you and your baby then there is another option. It’s not giving up, it’s choosing the alternative method that still means your baby will be happy, healthy and well nourished. *
"And your baby won’t love you any less if it’s milk comes from a carton via a bottle. And you won’t love your baby any less if it’s not feeding from your breast. I loved and still love both my girls exactly the same.
"There is more to life than how you feed your baby. Behind every happy baby is a happy mother. Make the right choice that’s right for you."
Despite the balanced and reasonable argument Clemmie poses in her piece - and the fact that she does not praise either breastfeeding or bottle-feeding as the best option for new mothers, the article was reported by Facebook users as being "abusive".
The majority of her readers were shocked, with many saying that the article had struck a chord with them.
One user, Helen Goodman, commented: "Thought it was a fab article, very honest and rang so true for me as I struggled with feeding both my tongue tied babies, and ended up mix feeding both until 5 months and dealing with the guilt that ensued.
"There was absolutely NOTHING offensive in that article."
Do you agree with Clemmie's article - is breastfeeding harder than people give credit for? Are you shocked her piece was reported by readers as "abusive"? What has been your experience of breast or bottle-feeding - did you feel there was a pressure to do one or the other?